Pan-Seared Chicken with Tertiary Herb Sauce
Juicy pan-seared chicken breasts served with a vibrant herb sauce that layers primary, secondary, and tertiary herbs for complexity. This Mediterranean recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless skinless chicken breasts, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces (6 oz each) boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley leaves
- 2 tbsp, chopped fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp water
The instant-read thermometer we’d check this chicken with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 oz each), then season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken breasts and sear for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 3: While chicken cooks, combine 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves (primary herb), 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves (secondary herb), and 2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves (tertiary herb) in a small bowl.
- Step 4: Stir into the herbs 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tbsp water to create a fresh herb sauce.
- Step 5: Once chicken is cooked, remove from heat and spoon the herb sauce over each breast, allowing the warm sauce to infuse the meat before serving.








